Class S, N & B

Autoclaves & Sterilisers | Medical / Podiatry / Orthodontic / Veterinary | Class S, N, B

AS/NZS 4815:2006, the Australian Standard governing autoclave use in office based practices assigns three different classes for autoclave sterilization cycles. These are: Type B cycle (the strictest), Class S cycle and Class N cycle (the least strict)

AUTOCLAVE CYCLE DEFINITIONS

Type B cycle
A cycle capable of sterilizing all wrapped (single or double) or unwrapped items, including porous and cannulated items that do not exceed the specifications of Hollow load Type A.

Type S cycle
A cycle capable of sterilizing unwrapped items and at least one of the following load types: porous items, small porous items, Hollow load Type A, Hollow load Type B, single layer wrapped items, double wrapped items.

Type N cycle
A cycle capable of sterilizing unwrapped, solid items.

WHAT ARE TYPE A & B HOLLOW INSTRUMENTS?

Hollow Load Type A
An object whose ratio of length of cavity to diameter is greater than 5.

Hollow Load Type A
Due acknowledgement is given to EN 13060:2004.

Hollow Load Type B
An object whose ratio of length of cavity to diameter is greater than 1 and less than 5.

Hollow Load Type B
Due acknowledgement is given to EN 13060:2004.

Non Hollow Instruments
An object whose ratio of length of cavity to diameter is less than 1.

Non Hollow Instrument
Due acknowledgement is given to EN 13060:2004.

WHAT AUTOCLAVE SHOULD I USE?

What autoclave you should use is determined by the type of instruments that you sterilise.

If you sterilise Hollow Load Type A instruments, you will need an autoclave capable of running a Type B Cycle. These autoclave are usually called Class B sterilisers.

Typical users of Class B autoclaves include:

Examples of Class B sterilizers are:
http://www.autoclave.com.au/dentalsiltex.htm
http://www.autoclave.com.au/cominoxstericlaveb.htm
http://www.autoclave.com.au/medicalprestige.htm

If you sterilise Hollow Load Type B instruments or package your instruments, you will need an autoclave capable of running a Type S Cycle. These autoclaves are usually called Class S sterilisers, although Class B sterilisers can also sterilise these instruments.

Typical users of Class S autoclaves include:

Examples of Class S sterilizers are:
http://www.autoclave.com.au/medicalsiltexpratika.htm
http://www.autoclave.com.au/medicaltuttnauer.htm
http://www.autoclave.com.au/medicalprestige.htm
http://www.autoclave.com.au/cominoxstericlaves.htm

If you only sterilise unwrapped Non Hollow instruments, you only need an autoclave capable of running Class N Cycles. These autoclaves are usually called Class N Sterilisers. Not many new sterilizes are Class N, although many older sterilisers are. When purchasing a new autoclave to run Class N, it is best to purchase a Class S sterilisers as these can easily process such instruments.